The United Nations Security Council Authorizes the

use of Force from Member States to protect Civilians

and Populated areas in Libya against the forces of
Muammar Al-Qadhafi

To watch VIDEO Please Click HERE

17 March 2011 – The Security Council today effectively authorized the use of force in Libya to
protect civilians from attack, specifically in the eastern city of Benghazi, which Colonel
Muammar Al-Qadhafi has reportedly said he will storm tonight to end a revolt against his
regime.

Acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which provides for the use of force if needed, the
Council adopted a resolution by 10 votes to zero, with five abstentions, including those of veto-
wielding China and Russia, authorizing Member States “to take all necessary measures… to
protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab
Jamhariya, including Benghazi, while excluding an occupation force.”

www.Zimvi.com
Assault on Benghazi would endanger masses of Libyan
civilians, Ban warns

Refugees await food distribution in the border town of Sallum, Egypt, after fleeing the ongoing
crisis in neighbouring Libya

16 March 2011 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on Libyan leader Colonel
Muammar Al-Qadhafi’s Government to cease hostilities immediately, warning that a potential
assault on the rebel-held city of Benghazi could endanger huge numbers of civilians.
“Those responsible for the continuous use of military forces against civilians will be held
accountable,” a statement issued by his spokesperson said, as media reported that Mr. Qadhafi’s
forces had intensified offensives in the east and the west of the North African country against
what began a month ago as mass protests by peaceful civilians seeking his ouster.

“The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the increasing military escalation by

government forces, which include indications of an assault on the city of Benghazi. A campaign
to bombard such an urban centre would massively place civilian lives at risk,” the statement
added of the eastern city that has become the main base of anti-Qadhafi forces.

Mr. Ban, who is currently visiting Guatemala, is keeping in close touch with “the critical
discussions” under way in the Security Council over measures aimed at protecting civilians, and
last night spoke by phone with Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Kusa.

The special envoy whom Mr. Ban sent to Tripoli, the capital, for humanitarian and political talks
with Mr. Qadhafi’s Government, former Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib, has now

www.Zimvi.com
left the city after two days of discussions in which he conveyed “the strong calls by the
international community to cease the fighting and the violence, to ensure humanitarian access
and to work toward a peaceful solution of the crisis,” the statement said.

“The Special Envoy stressed the need for a firm and unambiguous commitment on the part of the
Libyan government to cease hostilities immediately,” it added.

Mr. Khatib is continuing his efforts, including contacts with representatives of Libyan political
groups in Benghazi, as well as with the authorities in Tripoli.

Security Council members are holding consultations over an Arab League request that it impose
a no-fly zone against Mr. Qadhafi’s air force, which has been pounding cities held by his
opponents.

The 15-member body last month imposed sanctions against the Libyan authorities, placing an
arms embargo on the country and freezing the assets of its leaders, while referring the violent
repression of civilian demonstrators to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague,
Netherlands.

ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo subsequently announced that he is opening an

investigation into Mr. Qadhafi, some of his sons and members of his inner circle for crimes
against humanity in repressing peaceful protesters in violence that has claimed hundreds or even
thousands of lives, according to media reports. Mr. Ban has said Mr. Qadhafi lost his legitimacy
when he declared war on his people.

www.Zimvi.com